Ge­mein­de­brie­fe

Dear friends in Christ,I wish you a happy and blessed new year! It has been a joy to gather with you in the last weeks as we have prepared for and celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to all who made our Advent and Christmas services such a blessed time of worship.And I pray that the start of the new year finds you and your loved ones in good health and Christian spirit. May God continue to bless you in this new year, as together we recommit ourselves to a new year of loving and serving God and others.In this month's newsletter, you will find articles about ongoing and new ministry programs in the community, including ways in which we shall strive to fulfill our commitment to Creation Care. We thank you for your support of these initiatives, and your feedback and encouragement is always welcome.Lastly, we give thanks to all who have pledged your financial, volunteer, and prayerful support for our ministry in 2024. As of the start of January, a total of 23 Estimate of Giving forms have been received from members and friends of ESUMC. We thank you all for your continued support of our ministry. Based on your levels of giving, our Finance Committee shall draw up a church budget for 2024.If you have not yet submitted your Estimate of Giving for 2024, you may pick up a form in the fellowship area in church, or make your statement of support online via this dedicated link:ESUMC 2024 Estimate of Giving FormMay God's blessings and peace be upon you all in this new year of worship, praise, and service!Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,As we continue in this Advent season of watching and preparing for the coming of Christ, I pray God's blessings and peace upon you and your loved ones.It was a joy to witness the children and youth of our congregation celebrate the true meaning of Christmas during their presentation last Sunday. We thank all of the children and youth who participated in spite of the illnesses that forced a last minute change to the program. And we offer our thanks to Shelley and the Sunday School team for their spirited and joyful leadership, and to Marilyn and Deborah for their blessed musical direction.Join us for worship this Sunday at 11:15 for a special Service of Lessons and Carols. And I look forward to seeing you for our two servcies on Sunday 24 December: at 11:15 for our Fourth Sunday of Advent worship serviceat 18:00 for our Christmas Eve service of candle lighting and Holy Communion.Lastly, we encourage you to submit your Estimate of Giving for 2024 by the end of December. You may pick up a form in the fellowship area in church, or make your statement of support online via this dedicated link:ESUMC 2024 Estimate of Giving FormMay God's peace be upon you, as we remain alert for the coming of Christ.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,Blessings and peace to you! As we enter into the holy season of Advent, I encourage you to prepare your hearts and minds for the coming of our Lord Jesus, the light of the world, born in the city of David.In this newsletter, you will find a listing of the special services of worship in the coming weeks, including our Children's Christmas Pageant, a Service of Lesson and Carols, and our Christmas Eve service of candle lighting and Holy Communion. And please mark the date of Saturday 9 December; from 14:00 to 17:00, the children shall hold their final rehearsal for the Christmas pageant, and all are welcome to help us decorate our Christmas tree in the sanctuary.On our Events page below, you will also find details of the holiday bazaars sponsored by Christ Church Vienna and the UN Women's Guild.I also want to thank those of you who have already submitted your Estimate of Giving form for 2024. We are thankful for the financial and spiritual commitment you have made to support our congregation in the coming year.If you have not yet submitted your Estimate of Giving for 2024, you may pick up a form in the fellowship area in church, or make your statement of support online via this dedicated link:ESUMC 2024 Estimate of Giving FormI give you thanks for your faithful support of ESUMC, and pray God's blessings upon you and your loved ones in this holy season.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,I pray God's blessings on you and your loved ones in this fall season. This month we are giving thanks to God for all the gifts God has given us, and listening for ways in which God is calling us to use these gifts for the building up of God's kingdom, and for the good of others.As noted in the article below, the Finance Committee is actively working towards preparing a church budget for 2024. To assist in planning, the committee invites ESUMC members and friends to complete an Estimate of Giving form, to indicate your level of support for the ministry of our church in 2024. Forms will be available in church on Sundays, or you may simply follow the link below to complete the form electronically.ESUMC 2024 Estimate of Giving FormIn either case, your form shall be handled confidentially and with appreciation. If ever you have questions regarding the finances of ESUMC, you are welcome to speak with Delia Viljoen, ESUMC Finance Committee Chair; Franz Haslinger, ESUMC Treasurer; or with me at any time.We thank you for your support, and pray God's blessings on you.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Please note: This newsletter has been updated with an article that was inadvertently omitted from the original November 2023 newsletter. Thanks for your understanding! Pastor JohnDear friends in Christ,Greetings and peace to you! It was such a blessing to gather in worship on Sunday to celebrate our annual Harvest Festival. Members and friends representing nations around the globe joined us for a service of music and song and dance, Scripture reading and prayer, and the giving of our offerings in support of God's mission in the world. We offer a special thanks to Marilyn Brandl for organizing and leading the music for the day, to John Kojo Ampia-Addison and our African Singers and Drummers for their spirited musical offerings, and to Lorraine Welch-Haslinger and Franz Haslinger for their leadership in decorating the altar and arranging our worship and fellowship space. We thank God for all our volunteers who made the day such a blessing.Looking ahead, November is Stewardship Month at ESUMC. Throughout the month, we will be reminded of the many gifts and talents we have received, and how God is calling us to share our talents with others, to God's glory. I invite you to read Delia's article below, participate in our "coin collection" this month, and prepare to make your annual Estimate of Giving in support of ESUMC in 2024.Also below you shall find articles on upcoming events for our young families and young adults, an update on our commitment to creation care, and other news from the congregation.May God's blessing and peace be with you!Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,Greetings and peace to you! It was such a blessing to gather in worship on Sunday to celebrate our annual Harvest Festival. Members and friends representing nations around the globe joined us for a service of music and song and dance, Scripture reading and prayer, and the giving of our offerings in support of God's mission in the world. We offer a special thanks to Marilyn Brandl for organizing and leading the music for the day, to John Kojo Ampia-Addison and our African Singers and Drummers for their spirited musical offerings, and to Lorraine Welch-Haslinger and Franz Haslinger for their leadership in decorating the altar and arranging our worship and fellowship space. We thank God for all our volunteers who made the day such a blessing.Looking ahead, November is Stewardship Month at ESUMC. Throughout the month, we will be reminded of the many gifts and talents we have received, and how God is calling us to share our talents with others, to God's glory. I invite you to read Delia's article below, participate in our "coin collection" this month, and prepare to make your annual Estimate of Giving in support of ESUMC in 2024.Also below you shall find articles on upcoming events for our young families and young adults, an update on our commitment to creation care, and other news from the congregation.May God's blessing and peace be with you!Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,Join us in worship on this Sunday 29 October as we celebrate our annual Harvest Festival!We shall gather in worship at 11:15 to sing and dance, offer prayers, rejoice with special music, and make our offering to God in thanksgiving for God's goodness.Following the service, we shall sit together for a congregational meal. Please bring food and drink representing your culture or community to share with your fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. In preparation for our celebration, we invite volunteers to come to church on Saturday 28 October at 14:00, to help set up the sanctuary and fellowship area. If you plan to come on Saturday, please let me know in advance.Finally, two quick reminders: Be sure to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night. And through 5 November, the U4 does not operate between Schwedenplatz and Karlsplatz; you may take the U1 or U3 instead.I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dearest friends in Christ,Grace and peace to you! I bring you greetings from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where this week I am helping to lead a gathering of my fellow United Methodist missionaries who serve in Asia.While it is a blessing to be here with my colleagues in mission service, I look forward to returning to Vienna next week, as we shall make our final preparations for our annual celebration of Harvest Festival. Please join us in worship on Sunday 29 October for our day of thanksgiving, and bring a dish of food to share for the international buffet following worship. And as mentioned, we welcome volunteers to come to church on Sunday the 28th at 14:00 to help prepare the church for the celebration.Below please find information about our new Young Adults and Young Families ministries, as well as details on upcoming worship services and study and fellowship events.May God's blessings be upon you!Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,Greetings and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus!It is season of great blessings for the ESUMC community. This fall, we are receiving new members into our congregation, including children being brought forth for baptism and adults preparing to make their profession of Christian faith and commitment to our church. We have raised funds for missions in our own community and others in need far beyond our walls; below please see Marilyn's expression of thanks for the generosity of our congregation. We are launching new ministries with our children, youth, and young adults. God has blessed us richly, and the harvest is plentiful.In that spirit, join us in worship on Sunday 29 October as we celebrate Harvest Festival! We shall gather in worship to sing and dance, offer prayers, rejoice with special music, and make our offering to God in thanksgiving for God's goodness. And following worship, we shall gather for a congregational meal, with food and drink from around the world prepared by our members. Please plan to join us in worship on this festive day (in your traditional dress, if you wish!), and bring a bounty to share with others. And in advance of the day, we invite volunteers to come to church on Saturday 28 October at 14:00, to help to begin to prepare the sanctuary and fellowship area for our Sunday celebration.Lastly, we continue to request your references for a single room to rent (in a shared apartment, student housing, etc.) in Vienna for up to €500 a month, starting immediately. If you can offer or refer to such housing, please contact the church office at esumc@emk.at.In this season of thanksgiving, may you be mindful of the many blessings of God.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus. What a joyful couple of weeks it has been here at ESUMC! The celebration of the baptism of Noah Shewu, our fantastic BBQ and Hike hosted by Andrew Stones, and the opening of our new Sunday School season...these events have reminded us of the joy of our faith, and the blessing of our church community. We thank all those members and friends who have contributed to and continue to bless our ministries of worship, fellowship, and faith formation.In this brief mid-month update, I invite you to read below about community events upcoming in the next weeks. Join us as we worship, grow in our faith, and serve others in the name of Jesus.Lastly, please note: A new young adult member of the congregation is searching for a single room to rent (in a shared apartment, student housing, etc.) in Vienna for up to €500 a month, starting 1 October. If you can offer or refer to such housing, please contact the church office at esumc@emk.at.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,Greetings and peace to you all! It was a blessing to be reunited with you in our service of worship this past Sunday. I am thankful to you all for your support and prayers as I concluded my period of mission itineration in the US. It was an honor for me to spend five weeks traveling in the US, visiting local congregations in four different states, sharing the story of our ministry here in Austria, and receiving inspiration from the faith witness of the local congregations I visited.On behalf of ESUMC, again we offer our special and heartfelt thanks to the Rev. Dr. Tom Garrison for leading worship and preaching the gospel over these last weeks. Pastor Tom is a true friend of our congregation, and a faithful brother in Christ who joyfully shares his spiritual gifts with our community. Pastor Tom, thank you for your friendship and Christian ministry!In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you shall read of a number of ministry programs and activities that shall begin in the coming weeks: our annual congregational BBQ and potluck (see the photo from last year, below), the resumption of Sunday School for our children, a short course for prospective ESUMC new members, a series of conversations about creation care and our climate, and a new Bible study series.I invite you to take part in the life of our ministry and offer your spiritual gifts, for the building up of our one body in Christ.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,I offer you grace and peace in the name of our Lord Jesus, and bring greetings from the USA. Next week my time of mission itineration and family visitation shall come to an end, and I shall return to Vienna. I look forward to being back in our community and leading the worship service on 27 August.As a congregation, we again offer our thanks to Shelley and the entire Vacation Bible School team for a marvelous week of VBS. I'm sorry I missed the children's presentation in worship late last month! In case you missed it, please take a moment to read Shelley's reflection on VBS in the news article below.With the fall season quickly approaching, we invite your participation in a number of community events in the coming months: our Annual BBQ and Hike on 9 September, the start of Sunday School on 10 September, a Membership Class for prospective new ESUMC members starting 17 September, the resumption of Tuesday evening Bible Study, and the return of Harvest Festival on 29 October. See below for more details on these upcoming events. And may I remind you that we continue to seek volunteers for our Sunday School ministry; to volunteer, please speak with Shelley or email to sundayschool.esumc@gmail.com.I wish you all God's blessings, and look forward to seeing you again in worship at the end of the month.Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,Greetings and peace to you from New York, where I am in the midst of my period of itineration, visiting local congregations in the US to share stories and images of our ministry in Vienna. You can read more about my visits below.We give thanks to God for the Rev. Dr. Tom Garrison, who continues to lead worship services at ESUMC through Sunday 20 August. To mark his first month of ministry with the congregation, Pastor Tom offers below a few words of encouragement. Pastor Tom, we thank you for your ministry!Yours in Christ, Pastor John+ + + + + + +

Dear friends in Christ,I offer you grace and peace in the name of our Lord Jesus, and bring your greetings from Pennsylvania, USA.I write this mid-month newsletter update from the city of Williamsport, where I have been based this past week as I continue my mission itineration. Since my arrival in the US about 10 days ago, I have made nine separate presentations in local UMC churches, during worship services, Sunday School classes, potluck dinners, and evening fellowship events.It's a blessing for me to share some words and pictures from the ministry of ESUMC with our friends and partners here in the US.Meanwhile, we give thanks to Pastor Tom for his leadership of ESUMC worship services through August 20.Families, we remind you that ESUMC Vacation Bible School begins on Monday 24 July. For more information, visit our website at www.esumc.at. To register, go to https://forms.gle/8aiTYoa3XgVQEkGB9.Finally, please let me share these two special requests. 1) In August and September, David and Connie Lee will be on vacation. We are seeking members to host Coffee Hour fellowship in their absence. Please sign up in the kitchen, or speak with David and Connie.2) Vacation Bible School begins on 24 July. Shelley and her team would welcome additional volunteers to assist with VBS, as well as with preparations for the new Sunday School year in September. To volunteer in our Sunday School program, please speak with Shelley or email sundayschool.esumc@gmail.com.Thank you for your support!Yours in Christ, Pastor John

Dear friends in Christ,Greetings and peace to you, and welcome to the new ESUMC newsletter! Starting in July, our regular e-newsletter will come to you in this new format, with links below to news from the congregation, upcoming events in the life of the community, and a list of worship services. We hope you enjoy this new format.As I prepare to travel to the US to begin my mission itineration, I wish to thank you all for your prayers for my safe travels, and for the warm welcome you extended to Pastor Tom Garrison during our worship service on Sunday. Starting this Sunday 3 July, Pastor Tom will lead our services of worship, and will be available to the congregation for pastoral care, at tmaxgarr@gmail.com.You shall be in my prayers over the next weeks, and I shall stay in touch via this newsletter!Yours in Christ, Pastor John